Over 50 protesters, including members of OU Turning Point USA, attended Norman City Council’s meeting Tuesday evening to comment on recent remarks made by Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The organization announced its attendance in a Sunday Instagram post that featured a screenshot of a Facebook comment Grant made following Kirk’s death and a picture of Grant with the word “Evil.” The organization wrote it would hand out free white shirts that read “We Are All Charlie Kirk” before the meeting.
In the Facebook comment, Grant wrote Kirk’s death was ironic, calling him a narcissist and a “grotesque cheerleader.” Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University.
The council meeting took place on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. Before the meeting started, Turning Point USA members sang happy birthday to Kirk.
Mystery McDoulett, OU Turning Point USA member, spoke to the OU Daily ahead of the meeting about OU Turning Point's goals.
“The hope is to make our voices heard and to honor Charlie Kirk on his birthday and for Helen Grant to give us an apology,” McDoulett said.
Ward 5 resident Nathan Trepagnier said he spoke at the meeting because he wanted to show his disapproval with Grant’s actions and encourage them to resign.
“It’s really terrible that politicians are celebrating the death of people,” Trepagnier said. “I will hope to eradicate that today and make sure that’s known that it’s not acceptable in Norman.”
A total of 39 people spoke during the public comment period, according to City Clerk Brenda Hall.
During the meeting, Grant did not acknowledge the presence of OU Turning Point USA. OU Daily reporters attempted to speak with Grant after the meeting but could not find them. Grant was later escorted out of council chambers by City Attorney Rick Knighton.
Throughout the meeting, Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman reminded attendees to hold applause for after the public comment period rather than clapping after individual speakers.
“I’ve already made it clear. After the next speaker, whoever it is, if there is any applause, then this meeting will be adjourned,” Holman announced to attendees at one point. “No applause for anybody. No matter if you agree with them or don’t agree with them.”
Holman also advised multiple speakers throughout the meeting to address the council as a whole, rather than an individual council member.
Lane Brown, a Tulsa resident, called this rule fake during his comment.
“One thing that I would like to address – Mayor Holman, you’re not going to bully me with your fake rules,” Brown said. “You’re (going to) interrupt me and tell me that I’m not allowed to address you. That’s fine. I don’t care.”
Meeting agendas advise residents to direct their comments to the entire council, which is unable to participate or respond during miscellaneous comments due to Open Meeting Act regulations. Residents are allowed to speak for four minutes or less.
After Brown attempted to give a Bible to Grant, Holman reminded him to address the whole council, to which Brown said, “Yeah, I don’t care. OK, back to what I was saying.”
Holman then told Brown his comment time was over.
“You are done speaking,” Holman said. “You can remove yourself. … When you become a resident of Norman, you are welcome to come back and speak.”
Brown walked from the podium to Grant’s seat, leaving a Bible on the dais.
Brown told OU Daily after the meeting that while driving from Tulsa to Norman, he knew that he intended to present a Bible to Grant.
Brown said now-deleted social media comments from former Ward 3 Councilmember Bree Montoya caused him to first drive to a Norman City Council meeting two weeks ago.
In September, Montoya resigned from the Ward 3 seat after the screenshots were reposted by popular social media account, Libs of TikTok, on the social platform X. In the screenshots, Montoya is seen engaging with another individual in the comments of a KFOR-TV post about the “No Kings” protests, where she encouraged the user to perform acts of suicide.
Holman told OU Daily after the meeting that he wants to see a respectful environment during meetings.
“I appreciate (OU Turning Point USA). I appreciate their passion. I know that Charlie Kirk was somebody they cared about a lot and meant a lot to them personally, so I understand why they feel the way they do and why they want to speak out their opinions,” Holman said. “Just be respectful of other people's opinions.”
Holman said residents who take issue with Grant can either campaign for their seat next February or vote against them during the election.
“I believe Councilmember Grant stands by what they said,” Holman said. “They again are held accountable by the voters of Ward 4, they are in their second term, the voters of Ward 4 in my opinion are very well aware of councilmember Grant’s opinions and have reelected them.”
Many speakers quoted the Bible during public comments, with some using the remainder of their time to engage in prayer. One speaker began a prayer, with many attendees joining in.
Gary Barksdale, OU math professor and OU Turning Point USA faculty adviser, offered up the remainder of his time for silent prayer.
“These people behind me deserve a public apology,” Barksdale said. “I don't know if the two women behind me are evil but it’s obvious the rhetoric is.”
Heather Boss, a Cleveland County resident, compared the situation to a spiritual battle.
“What we are witnessing is not merely a political clash, it is a spiritual battle for the moral soul of Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma and America,” Boss said.
Aisha Ali, a Ward 3 resident and member of the Human Rights Commission, told OU Daily she hopes the meeting makes council members more vigilant when posting to social media.
“What they’re saying, it does have ramifications,” Ali said. “They are public servants. They should watch what they’re saying.”
After the meeting, OU Turning Point President Kalib Magana told OU Daily he was happy with the meeting’s outcome.
“We got our point across, we were civil,” Magana said. “It was just an amazing night to honor Charlie Kirk.”
This story was edited by Thomas Pablo, Anusha Fathepure and Ana Barboza.
